Samuel Bryson
Patrolman

Samuel Bryson

Savannah Police Department — Savannah, GA
Felonious
End of Watch November 4, 1868
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
The Vigil Panel 3 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Bryson and Patrolman Robert Read were shot and killed killed while attempting to restore order during a riot that broke out during the 1868 Presidential election. The riot was started by citizens opposing candidate Ulysses S. Grant. Three citizens were killed and 17 injured.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-19B85B18
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

158 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Bryson gave the Savannah Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Savannah community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Savannah, Chatham County, GA
Platform Identity spd.chatham.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 4, 1868
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Patrolman Samuel Bryson is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Savannah Police Department, 21 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.7% of this agency's fallen.

Savannah Police Department
21
of 31 officers
67.7% Felonious
GA — Statewide
549
of 905 officers
60.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel Bryson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Samuel Bryson Compares

Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel Bryson is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel Bryson was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909